Ben Curtis' desertion of Secret Machines and the breakup of On!Air!Library! was justified by this group's first single, a sky-gliding confection that modernized the sighing, swirling, private dancefloor sides of Medicine, Seefeel, and My Bloody Valentine. Included as the finale on Alpinisms, the debut album from Curtis and O!A!L!'s singing Deheza twins, "My Cabal" has the feel of a bonus track; the later recordings that precede it, despite remaining squarely within the domain of late-'80s/early-'90s dream pop in terms of inspiration, are relatively individualist, going well beyond the lucid psychedelia and discreet flickers of Afro-beat and contemporary pop. What pushes these songs past mere worship involves cunning collisions of robust rhythm, caressing noise, and heavenly melody, with each element equally crucial. Good shoegaze/dream pop bands mastered one of them; the most exceptional of the heap, like this group, had all three down. The most striking example here is "Wired for Light," seemingly spawned by Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Peek-A-Boo" and M/A/R/R/S' "Anitina," full of clacking percussion that rattles the ribs, Middle Eastern accents, gale-force atmospherics, and layered vocals that could be casting a spell. Other than a trip on the Krautrock railway to oblivion that occurs throughout the 12-minute "Sempiternal/Amaranth," not much resembles any of the members' past work. The Dehezas have found their true calling, their voices a better match for these crisp supernatural bliss-outs than the jagged, thorny sound of their former band. Unsurprisingly, there's a touch of otherness to the lyrics, apparently written as communications between (evidently English-speaking) members of a mythical pickpocketing academy -- called School of Seven Bells -- located in Colombia. No, you wouldn't know it without being told, and though most of the words can be made out, they're secondary to the sound of the absorbing voices swarming throughout these impossibly vibrant songs.
The deluxe edition of this New York based trio’s electronica/dream pop debut, Alpinisms, was released about 2 weeks ago and has been in surprisingly heavy rotation since then. The single “Iamundernodisguise” somehow manages to lodge itself in my head everyday, which probably creeps people out as I constantly chant the chorus under my breath. The [...]Related posts:Back to School RW: Long
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As a whole, the original Alpinisms warrants much praise. Songs like “Iamundernodisguise”, “Half Asleep” and “Connjur” are, quite literally, among the best electro-pop songs released this year. And, in some ways, School Of Seven Bells defies that genre classification, as their music strays into an occasional repetitive shoegaze, hints at a little feedback filled noise, and dives headl
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(Ghostly International) Consisting of Benjamin Curtis (ex- Secret Machines) and sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, Brooklyn's SVIIB have recently toured with M83, a match that's a good indication of what to expect aesthetically from Alpinisms. It is a fulfilling, rewarding album, the palette of which is rich with digital gauze,…
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"Connjur" - School of Seven Bells Buzzy and resplendent, "Connjur" is almost magically appealing, combining an earthy, decisive, Björk-y sort of electronica with airy, Cocteau Twins-like layers and harmonies and a touch of shoegaze swirl. Listen to the continual give-and-take between the yawning chasms of sound (distorting guitars?) at the bottom of the mix and the perky beat, with those ..
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Last year I came upon a track by Prefuse 73 featuring School Of Seven Bells entitled "The Class Of 73 Bells" which is a rework of a song off of their new album Alpinisms called "Iamundernodisguise". I'm a part time Prefuse fan, but this track was awesome. I really didn't do any research of who [...]
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Last year I came upon a track by Prefuse 73 featuring School Of Seven Bells entitled "The Class Of 73 Bells" which is a rework of a song off of their new album Alpinisms called "Iamundernodisguise". I'm a part time Prefuse fan, but this track was awesome. I really didn't do any research of who [...]
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needless weekend sharing.the other night i dreamt i was in a space pod with one other person and we were going to do back flips in outer space. we were wearing normal clothes. i hit a push button and this pinwheel / propeller-looking spacecraft door opened from the center out. "It's like going underwater," he said. "It'll be dark." i guess it was my first time. "I don't ever open my eyes underw...
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As a whole, the original Alpinisms warrants much praise. Songs like “Iamundernodisguise”, “Half Asleep” and “Connjur” are, quite literally, among the best electro-pop songs released this year. And, in some ways, School Of Seven Bells defies that genre classification, as their music strays into an occasional repetitive shoegaze, hints at a little feedback filled noise, and dives headl
More >
It is hard to believe that so much sound can exude from just three people despite a non-existent rhythm section and a guitarist who constantly looks at his own feet. When I walked into the Troubadour on May 29th, sound was already resonating throughout the building, bouncing off each wall and every swaying body in the packed house. As each song melted seamlessly into the next the delicate harm...
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Hailing and wailing from Brooklyn, New York, comes another Ghostly International gem who call themselves School of Seven Bells. The track below comes from the band's highly anticipated debut album, Alpinisms. If you happen to be in the NYC area later this month for the CMJ Music Marathon, you can catch School of Seven Bells live at the Terrorbird Media Party (10/22), at the Fader Magazine Par...
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The deluxe edition of this New York based trio’s electronica/dream pop debut, Alpinisms, was released about 2 weeks ago and has been in surprisingly heavy rotation since then. The single “Iamundernodisguise” somehow manages to lodge itself in my head everyday, which probably creeps people out as I constantly chant the chorus under my breath. The [...]Related posts:Back to School RW: Long
More >
This week I picked M83 as one of my picks for concerts to go to this week. The show is on November 20th at the Opera House.For those of you taking my advice (or any of you really), here's a little something.It's always good to know a little about the support act. On that evening the opening act will be a band called School Of Seven Bells. You can get an MP3 of their track "My Cabal" here ...
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School of Seven Bells Alpinisms Deluxe Edition (Vagrant) Releasing: 3 October School of Seven Bells is releasing a deluxe edition of their debut album, Alpinisms, October 3rd. In this case, "deluxe" means a digital-only version with all the original songs plus 9 bonus tracks of reworkings, remixes, and alternate takes of tracks from the critically acclaimed album. Their new version of "Iamunder...
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Brooklyn trio School of Seven Bells is coming off successful UK tours with Bat for Lashes & White Lies & a nomination for MOJO Breakthrough Act 2009. Now, “My Cabal,” the 3rd single from their Ghostly International debut Alpinisms, is here.“My Cabal” has at its core a rather telling bit of wordplay. The word “cabal”-usually pronounced “kuh-BALL,” meaning a secret, conspiratorial cl
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Photo by Jon BehmSchool of Seven Bells is releasing a deluxe edition of their debut album, Alpinisms, with 9 bonus tracks on October 13th. The bonus tracks include alternate versions, live cuts,...**Summary** Go to website for downloads, videos & more.
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Today we've got your hook-up for free admission to see School of Seven Bells headline a 21+ show next Wednesday The Bottle. Just drop us a line at radiofreechicago(at)gmail.com with "SVIIBtix" in the subject line for your chance to get on the list with a +1. Good luck!SVIIB - Half Asleep (Alternate Version) (New "deluxe" edition of Alpinisms hits digital store shelves next week!)
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Finally, the kids of School of Seven Bells release a video. I've been wondering if they ever were, I mean their album has only been out three months! Anyhoo, check out the video for "Half Asleep" from their fantastic album Alphinisms.
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IMF fave School Of Seven Bells will be releasing a deluxe edition of their debut album, 2008’s Alpinisms (one of our top 10), with 9 bonus tracks on October 13th. The bonus tracks include alternate versions, live cuts, demos and new mixes. The first new track to be released is an alternate take of “Iamundernodisguise”, [...]
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You’ve probably seen us posting about School of Seven Bells recently, as they’ve recently released a deluxe version of 2008’s Alpinisms. I’ve seen the live show (when they opened for M83 in Toronto last year), but haven’t seen them in a headline spot. Soon I’ll get my chance, and so could you….Contest: Correctly spell the [...]
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(Ghostly International) Consisting of Benjamin Curtis (ex- Secret Machines) and sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, Brooklyn's SVIIB have recently toured with M83, a match that's a good indication of what to expect aesthetically from Alpinisms. It is a fulfilling, rewarding album, the palette of which is rich with digital gauze,…
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 "Alpinisms")
